In this review

Cost & verdict

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Audi A6 estate running costs

The A6 Avant has a higher starting price than its key rivals, but that’s down to the limited range of engines available at the moment; model for model, it’s very much in line with the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate.

Fuel economy is also competitive, with the 40 TDI Sport model matching the 60.1mpg official average of the 520d SE and beating the E220d SE’s 57.7mpg, although it should be noted that all of these figures are under the old NEDC cycle that’s set to be replaced by a more realistic test.

If you’re a company car driver, all three will cost you a similar amount in tax, while the experts at Cap HPI predict that the new A6 Avant will hold onto its value better than the Jaguar XF Sportbrake and just as well as the E-Class Estate, but depreciate slightly quicker than the 5 Series Touring.

Audi A6 estate reliability

The A6 Avant is covered by a warranty that lasts for three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, whereas BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes all provide three-year warranties with no mileage limit.

Audi A6 estate safety and security

All versions of the A6 Avant come with a minimum of six airbags and a host of electronic driver aids, including an automatic emergency braking system that can recognise pedestrians as well as reduce the chances of you accidentally running into the car in front.

Optional safety kit includes traffic sign recognition to keep you up to date with the speed limit and adaptive cruise control with steer assist – a useful tool for high-mileage drivers. Meanwhile, more sophisticated autonomous driving technology that allows the driver to actually focus on other activities in certain circumstances while the car drives itself is set to be added at some point in 2019.

An alarm, engine immobiliser and deadlocks (which prevent a door from being opened, even if the window is smashed) are fitted to every A6 Avant to ward off thieves.

8 Images

Verdict

The latest Audi A6 Avant is a comfortable, quiet and technologically advanced estate that feels beautifully built